The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1887-03-10
Washingto Letter.
WASHINGTON, d. c., Mar. a, 1887

Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON, d. G., Mar. 4, 1887.
Ere this letter reaches you the 49th
Congress will have expired, and had
as well write its obituary few hours |
in advance of its demise.
Many criticisms and slurs and filings |
have been leveled at it during the two |
brief years of its existence, and many
attempts have been made to show that
it has made an unworthy record. But
as matter of fact it makes much
better showing than any recent Con-
gress has done, especially when it is
remembered that it was Democratic in
one branch and Republican in the
other. and consequently unequipped
for harmonious and rapid progress.
One reason that it was constantly
derided and reviled as failure was
because extravagant promises were
made for it and more was expected
than could be accomplished, where
one house was under the control of
vigorous and alert opposition. The
4Sth Congress was Republican in both
branches, and yet it did nothing that
is worthy of mention, while the little
that it did was done very badly.
The 49th has enacted law provid
| ing for the Presidential succession a
law for silver certificates law re-
ducing the fee for money orders a law
forfeiting unearned land grants and
restoring about seventy-fve million
acres to the public domain open for
actual settlers; law in the Interest
of the merchant marine law pro
viding for valuable addition t., the
Navy law fo, National Library !;
law aliotting lands in severalty to
the Indians the Interstate Commerce
law law establishing arbitration in
labor controversies and il has redeem
ed trade dollars and extended the free
delivery system.
While there is life there is hope.
and while am wiring the 49th Con
gress has three more hours to live. 1t
is frantic in its efforts to make the
most of this brief period of grace, and
bills are rushing through rapidly. 1t
is hoped and expected that among
them will be the one changing Inau.
guration day from the bleak, windy
fourth of March to the soft, bslmy day
that the 30th of April brings. At this
moment the reform measure has not
passed.
There have been night sessions in
both ends of the Capitol during the
week and lively scenes have occurred
in the House through the wild efforts
of members wanting little bills
through to catch the Speakers eye. Ii
is amusing and even pathetic to see
the eagerness with which members
stand in their places after morning
prayer and wait for Speaker Carlisle
to finish laying before the House the
documents and personal requests thai
J accumulate on his desk. When he IL
through and his eye is supposed to bt
abroad in the House, the anxious mem
bers flourish bits of paper alOft in or
der to attract his glance. while occa
sionally one impatient man calls, "Mr
Speaker" before the proper time, ant
then half hundred others shout "Mr
Speaker" Mr.. Speaker hall at once
The Speaker is impurturbable anC
his voice is always calm and steady
no matter how exciting his surround
ings, At last evenings session scor'
of members rushed into the space il
front of the clerks desk. and wavin.
their bills wildly in the air, vOclferous
ly claimed recognition. The confusion
on the floor, added to the buzz of con
versation in the galleries, which wer'
filled to their utmost capacity, was 81
great for time that business had t.
be suspended, and it was only by lout
rapping with the gavel and repeated
appeals to the members to preserv,
the proprieties, assisted by the efforts
of the Sergeant at Arms and his dep
uties, that the Speaker succeeded il
restoring comparative order.
} The President is overwhelmed will
work. and remains at his desk during
the greater portion of the night. Thes,
} are the busiest days of the year, If no
of his whole term. Congress must ad
ljourn at poen today, and any bills il
his hands undisposed of at that time
must fail. For the past few days ht
has had more than hundred bill.
lying before him most of the time, fol
as fast as he could dispose of them
others were brought in. Many o
them require close examination which
consumes much time.
Three important incidents have oc
Cured to keep alive the interest il
the Presidents nomination of james
M. Trotter. of Hyde Park, Mass tc
be Recorder of Deeds. in place of the
colored appointee from Albany recent
ly rejected by the Senate. First. he
arrived here from Boston, then his
nomination was acted upon adversely =
and he was appointed, q little later
by the present incumbent, Deputy
Recorder of Deeds, all on the same
day.